The World According to Doug. More Than You Ever Wanted to Know.

It's a bit of an unusual blog this week. I was interviewed by a student who asked such great questions, I asked them for permission to reprint my responses. So, without further adieu, more than you ever wanted to know about The Car Czar.

-Doug-

 How old were you when you started fixing automobiles?

Hard to say...maybe around 6 or seven ...although I can recall that my favorite all time activity was helping my Dad put on the snow tires every fall.

My Dad would also have "tune-up" parties in our backyard where his friends would all gather with their cars and spend the day replacing spark plugs, points,  condensers, and balancing carburetors. Years later he admitted that it was also a great excuse to hang out with his buddies and drink beer!

Every make a mistake fixing a car?

Totally! My favorite has got to be the time when I was a teenager that, after rotating my bald tires, that I forgot to actually put back the lug nuts. The good news was that the wheel fell off before I got very far. (a mistake that has helped me thousands of times since to always be sure all lug nuts are installed and torqued properly!)

When did you know it was what you wanted to do as a career?

I actually kept gravitating back to the automotive business as I was pursuing a media career. Finally the two just seemed to dovetail together, and instead of reporting on general news, I started reporting on the business I knew best...cars.

What training/education have you had, and where?

The State University of New York at New Paltz, (although I'm sure that my academic record would embarrass the Dean to this day...)

Do you study car facts or is your knowledge primarily from day to day experiences?

Both. I have more than twenty five years of practical hands-on , in the garage experience, as well as dozens of continuing education automotive courses, as well as ASE (national) certifications.

Have you ALWAYS had such a knack for fixing things and such an awesome memory for facts, etc.?

Actually, just a profound curiosity as well as a thirst to understand how things work. It drives me nuts if I can't figure something out, so this in turn leads me to want to disassemble and re-assemble.

Tell me about your FIRST car.

I'm embarrassed to say I learned to drive on a 1970 Ford Torino that was my Mom's. The car was horrible. The first car I ever owned myself was a 1980 Dodge Omni 024. A great car for an aspiring mechanic as it was also constantly breaking down.

What do you drive now?

I have 4 kids, so my big GMC Denali is a necessary evil so we can all get around in one ride.

But here's a secret that's among the best perks of being The Car Czar:

 I receive two cars every week from various auto manufacturers for the purpose of evaluating them. Not a bad gig when you have TWO brand new cars rotating in and out of your driveway every week!

Do you think of yourself as a mechanic, a broadcaster or both?

Really, both. I enjoy both roles so much that I would never confine myself to either career exclusively. I just feel incredibly blessed to be able to earn a living in the two businesses I enjoy most; cars and media.

What is your favorite part of reporting for Good Day Sacramento?

The live interaction with all of the others on the show. The camaraderie and the friendship that all of those people have offered me over the years has been so amazing, so generous, I can't say enough about them. They are all truly great friends.

Does radio or TV reporting come more naturally to you?

Probably radio because of the ability to rant for longer periods of time. TV can be so limiting because of the inherent time constraints.

Overall, the public LOVES you; how does that make you feel?

That's kind to say, but I think it's that I have been able to fill a void in the right place at the right time. The readers, viewers, and listeners, are always so nice when stopping me in the grocery store, airport, or wherever. I really still get amazed that people want to talk with me! It still blows me away.

What do you like about Sacramento?

Just about everything. Despite the differences between Sacramento and my home town of New York, most of which are culinary, the quality of life here is extremely high. I travel constantly, and I can honestly say that Sacramento is one of the best cities in the country to live and raise a family in. The graciousness of the people, the ever emerging cultural benefits, and the diversity all make this a very special place. I doubt I will ever leave.

Do you miss the East Coast?

Like I said, the pizza and the cold cuts cause me to dream of going home. But other than that, I enjoy visiting, but am ready to come home after a few days.

Doug Brauner is the OWNER/OPERATOR of The Car Czar Repair Shops and is a nationally recognized automotive expert. Shop information as well as FREE coupons for repair and service can be found at www.thecarczar.com or facebook.com/thecarczar.